Moles are often blamed when one sees mounds in their lawns or holes in their gardens. These cute but little monsters have many thinking if they can see since, at first glance, they appear to lack eyes.
Do Moles Have Eyes?
According to Rid My Critters, these small mammals have eyes. However, they are covered with their fur or skin because they rarely use them underground. Moles, instead, rely on their noses, which is the most active organ in their body.
Although their eyes are small, they have fully developed retinas with working cells. They can detect light but can't see clearly. However, they aren't entirely blind.
Scientists believe they are colorblind and nearsighted, per National Geographic. However, the experts agreed that they are good at detecting light.
Effie Yeaw Nature echoed the same sentiment about moles being thought of as colorblind with poor vision. It added that aside from its sense of smell, the animal relies on its sense of touch to find food and navigate the dark underground.
They are very sensitive and can easily feel nearby vibrations. This helps them survive by avoiding danger or finding invertebrates to consume.
What Are Moles?
Moles are tiny creatures that live underground and burrow. They can dig a few inches per minute and are quick diggers.
Their digging accelerates in the fall and winter as a result of the easier-to-burrow-through damp dirt. Moles live underground in their tunnel systems alone for the majority of their life and are constantly digging for food.
Moles are tiny predators that dig intricate networks of tunnels and paths through dirt, vegetation, and leaf litter. They are renowned for their tunneling abilities.
Because moles live underground, they have small eyes and no external ears that could get clogged with debris. Mole bodies are typically cylindrical, with strong shoulders and hands that resemble shovels. This combination allows them to move through the substrate as if it were water.
Speaking of aquatic environments, some mole species swim surprisingly well. For instance, the star-nosed mole, which lives in marshes in northern North America, uses its name-bearing appendage, which has a peculiar appearance, to quickly find and eat insects.
These amazing creatures are insectivores, which means that they consume invertebrates, including centipedes, millipedes, worms, and insect larvae.
Badgers, skunks, coyotes, and birds of prey are a few predators of moles. Moles may unintentionally surface at times, putting them at risk of becoming prey to these predators. They are easy prey for owls at night.
Moles constantly set many tunnels as backup exits in case of emergency. They also construct rooms for storing worms, which are their preferred meal. They can consume more than 50 pounds of worms in a year. For their young, known as pups, moles also build a chamber during mating season in the spring. At around one month old, the pups exit the chamber and set out on their own.
Moles are among the least researched animals because of their cryptic character and underground existence. Thus, they are frequently misinterpreted.
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